Debate with Reverend Dr. Michael Newdow and Dr. Christopher Leland at Focus on the Family

Submitted by stefanie on Thu, 03/20/2008 - 10:52.

Start: 04/23/2008 - 19:00

End: 04/23/2008 - 21:00

Are We "One Nation Under God?"

Freethinkers and Focus on the Family to Co-Sponsor Local Debate

Reverend Dr. Michael Newdow and Dr. Chris Leland to Discuss the Separation of Church and State

Wednesday April 23, at Focus on the Family, Doors open at 6:15pm

The Freethinkers of Colorado Springs and Focus on the Family will co-sponsor a debate between Reverend Dr. Michael Newdow, physician and constitutional lawyer most widely known for his efforts to remove the phrase “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” from U.S. currency; and Dr. Chris Leland, senior fellow for Christian worldview studies at Focus on the Family. Newdow and Leland will tackle issues of separation of church and state, focusing specifically on the use of “God” in government affairs. The debate statement is: Resolved: The phrases “one Nation under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” on U.S. currency violate the Constitution.

Admission is free and open to the public.There will be time for audience Q&A at the end of the evening. The event will take place in the Community Room at Focus on the Family, located in Colorado Springs at8605 Explorer Dr. (Between Briargate Pkwy and Research Pkwy). Donate fifty dollars or more to the FTCS for the debate and you will recieve a seat reserved under your name.There will be an additional limited number of general seats set aside for members of the FTCS but these are on a first come first serve basis for members of the group, and will open up to the general public ten minutes before the event.

The FTCS are co-sponsoring this event in part by the Humanist Action League (HAL) and the American Humanist Association (AHA).

Reverend Dr. Michael Newdow

Michael Newdow argues for equality and religious freedom according to constitutional law. He is currently working to remove the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God We Trust” from our money. He is a graduate of BrownUniversity, UCLA School of Medicine and the University of Michigan Law School. Newdow is minister of the First Atheist Church of True Science (FACTS). Learn more at ww.restorethepledge.com

Dr. Chris Leland

Chris Leland is theExecutive Director of College Student Ministries for the Focus on the Family Institute.He is also the Senior Fellow for Christian Worldview Studies and founder of Focus’s college website, TrueU.org. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma in political communication, M.A. from the University of Arkansas and B.A. from RiponCollege.